Peace March reaches Belgium
Brussels forbids Protest at NATO

The Hague - Brussels, May 22nd 1999 - After a seven day journey on foot
covering 150km, 300 marchers of all ages from more than thirty countries
carried their message of peace and non-violence across the border into
Belgium. The walkers started in The Hague, and will arrive at the Atomium
in Brussels next Wednesday May 25th at 6 p.m. The final march to NATO
headquarters planned for Thursday morning May 26th has been declared
illegal by the Mayor of Brussels. The walkers are appalled by this
restriction on freedom of speech and inherent right to demonstrate.

Organised by For Mother Earth, the walk left last Sunday May 16th from the
International Court of Justice in The Hague. The march is planned to
arrive at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday May 27. In a letter
addressed to NATO Secretary General Solana the walkers have appealed to
NATO member states to take substantial steps toward a global treaty
banning all nuclear weapons. They also demand an immediate end to NATO's
military action in the former Yugoslavia, and a political and non-violent
solution to the conflict by the UN and the OSCE (Organisation for Security
and Co-operation in Europe).

The cold reception in Brussels is in strong contrast to the rest of the
walk as the marchers have been warmly received by towns and villages all
along the route. City councils of The Hague, Delft, Rotterdam, Dordrecht,
Zevenbergen, Breda, Antwerpen and Mechelen have all offered their support,
including excellent camping facilities and welcoming receptions. Local
people also have helped out with donations of organic food and blankets
for this international mobile peace village as it passes through their
home towns.

The state of war in the Balkans has led the Mayor of Brussels to prohibit
the marchers from protesting at NATO headquarters. The marchers are
determined to bring their message of non-violence and appeal to the
Atlantic Alliance to adhere to international law. Pol D'Huyvetter, a For
Mother Earth spokesperson, declared: 'If NATO protects democracy they
should be open for opinions from civil society and respect international
law. We however observe that NATO violates law and silences all opposition
and dissident opinions on the issue of nuclear weapons. Following the
collapse of the Warsaw Pact, NATO today serves mostly the interests of the
military industrial complex. In the Balkan war there will be no winners.
Only the arms salesmen and the elite will profit.'

Mr. Myake Nobuo (70), a Japanese survivor of Hiroshima, joined the march
for the first 100km. Myake was a 16 year old student when the US dropped
the first atomic bomb on this Japanese city killing more than 100,000
people, mostly innocent citizens. Mr. Myake strongly condemned this crime
against humanity, and the fact that it was never properly addressed in a
court of law.

Simon-Pierre Etoga who comes from the African state of Cameroon walks for
his war torn continent that has been ravaged by famine and human suffering
as a result of armed conflict. "By walking, I wish to contribute to a
world free of war." Next week a group of 200 Indian farmers will join the
march in Antwerp and Brussels.
The walk has received the support of Abolition 2000, an international
network of over 1300 NGO's working to eliminate all nuclear weapons.

The organisation of the international peace march is being co-ordinated
from the international office of For Mother Earth in Gent, Belgium. Since
1991 For Mother Earth organized more than 12000km of peace marches across
the US and Europe

Audiovisual footage available from the walk

During the walk, the mobile media unit will be providing continuous
coverage via video clips, stills and digital images. These are available
upon request. The audio-visual website will carry highlights of the
footage, which is located at:
http://www.motherearth.org/walk99/pics

Press Briefings on Internet & on location:
http://www.motherearth.org/walk99/press.htm
More information is also available on site during the walk from the For
Mother Earth press office (red travel-bus) which will follow the route.
(May 16 - 30).